419 scam: "MR. KELVIN MARVIN."<miasonis.de@miasonis.de> FROM MR. KELVIN MARVIN OPERATION MANAGER, ECO BANK

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347012739647 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrkelvinmarvin@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. KELVIN MARVIN." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrkelvinmarvin@mail.ru>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 03:31:26 -0700
Subject: FROM MR. KELVIN MARVIN OPERATION MANAGER, ECO BANK

FROM MR. KELVIN MARVIN.
OPERATION MANAGER, ECO BANK.
Dear Sir/Madam

I know this message will come to you as a surprise since we do not know each other before, but for the purpose of introduction, I am MR. KELVIN MARVIN the Operation manager in ECO BANK Plc Lagos, Nigeria. There is an account opened in this bank in 1995. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that nobody has operated in this account since 2003. From our records, the owner of this account is late Dr. George Brumley Jr. Retired Atlanta physician. I am contacting you concerning a fund valued $18,000.000.00 (Eighteen Million United State Dollars Only) deposited in our bank. late Dr. George Brumley Jr transfer this money from United State of America to Nigeria for Real Estate investment, he was among the victims of a charter plane crash on Monday, July 21, 2003 in Mount Kenya which took off from Mozambique.

After the crash, I investigated and gathered that all his family members were involved in the plane crash thereby living nobody to claim the said fund. Based on this Information, I will like you to act as the relative or next of kin to our late esteemed customer. This deal is 100% risk free as i will give you all the information of the fund, which you will use to apply for the release of the fund as the next of kin to the deceased customer. the bank will transfer the funds to any foreign party who has correct information regarding this account, which I will transfer to you immediately if you are capable and willing to do this deal with me. Upon the successful release and transfer of this fund to your bank account, I agree that 40% of the total fund will be for you, 50% would be for me and 10% will be donated to any Charitable Organizations of your choice in your country.

My plan is to invest my own share in Hotel business in your country with your help, but whatever form of investment you have in mind for me will be highly welcomed. Finally, be mindful that nobody here knows that I contacted you for this transaction, to this effect you should please keep this deal confidential to yourself, because if any body here discovers that I gave out this information to you, I will definitely lose my job. I anticipate your swift and immediate response through my Private telephone number below. Send also your private TELEPHONE NUMBER when replying for immediate communication with you.

PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS AT mrkelvinmarvin@mail.ru
Yours Faithfully,

MR. KELVIN MARVIN.
(Operations Manager) Ecobank Plc
Telephone: +234-70-1273-9647.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam